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Monday, June 6, 2011

2011 Free Agents - PG's

Straight up, this might be the weakest position in this Summer's Free Agent pool, but there are still some good players here. This is the appetizer for the main coarse of 2012 when the two best PG's in the league; CP3 and D-Will will be "taking their talents" elsewhere. But anyway, here's my top 5 Free Agent PG's...enjoy.

1. Aaron Brooks(11 ppg. 4 apg.) - Aaron Brooks, when given the proper minutes is one of the best scoring point guards in the league; he's got water bug quickness, is one of the fastest players in the league with the ball in his hands, and on top of that Brooks is a deadly 3 point shooter. This past season, Brooks was coming off of a career year in 2009-2010 where he averaged 20 ppg. and was the leagues most lethal shooter from deep as his 209 three pointers made was good for number 1 in the league. Brooks was also named the leagues Most Improved Player. This past season was a different story for Brooks, as injuries kept him out of the Rockets line-up, and the emergence of fellow PG Kyle Lowry made it hard for Brooks to regain his starting spot when he returned from injury. Brooks was traded to the Phoenix Suns mid-season where he struggled to get consistent minutes behind Steve Nash. Brooks is a Restricted Free Agent, which means the Suns will have the chance to match any offer Brooks gets, and Phoenix has to decide if they will rebuild with Brooks as their man, or keep Nash around. Brooks was made for an uptempo style of play, a team like New York where he could play for Coach D'antoni would be ideal, but is unlikely unless the team deals Billups. Brooks is capable of being a starter in the league, and the homie is looking to get back to his 2009-2010 form. The top destinations for Brooks are; Phoenix(if they rebuild), Sacramento, LA(Lakers), and Portland. I can see Brooks becoming a starter in Portland if they don't resign Miller, and he could definitely help out an aging back-court like the Lakers' have.

2. Rodney Stuckey(16 ppg. 5 apg.) - Stuckey is a strong PG that loves to attack the basket. The Pistons are going through a lot; they haven't won in a long time, this past season was filled with losing and coaching turmoil, and the team has recently been sold to a new owner. But even in the midst of all the negativity, the play of Stuckey has been one of the few pleasant things Detroit fans can dwell on, as he finished the season with two 29 point games in a row. Stuckey is a Restricted Free Agent and I don't really see any teams throwing cake at him attempting to lure him away from Detroit. Even though he is more of a SG than a PG, right now, he's probably the best player on the Pistons roster, along with rising wing Austin Daye. I don't see the Pistons letting him walk away. The top destinations for Rodney Stuckey are; Detroit and maybe Sacramento if they don't resign Marcus Thornton; that would give Tyreke Evans a chance to play the 2 while Stuckey ran the 1, unlikely though, I don't see Stuckey anywhere else but Detroit.

3. J.J. Barea(8 ppg. 3 apg.) - Numbers aren't important here. Barea is one of the leagues quickest and fastest PG's and is a straight game changer off the bench as he brings that energy. Solid role player, and currently playing for a ring with his Dallas Mavericks. Barea has been the perfect compliment to Jason Kidd off the bench as he brings all the elements Kidd lacks to the floor when he enters the game. When Kidd is out there, you have a brilliant basketball mind, clutch set shooter, and the definition of a Floor General, but you also have aging legs, that's where Barea comes in. Barea is a perfect fit for the Dallas Mavericks as is, a lot of teams would love to have a solid backup PG like Barea on their team, and at times where Kidd has been hurt in the past, he has proved he can step in and start when needed, his quickness and speed make him very hard to guard. Although Barea has been solid for the Mavericks, he is a Unrestricted Free Agent, he's free to test the waters, and with Beaubois still in the fold with the Mavericks, they may let Barea walk, especially if Kidd doesn't call it quits after this season. The top destinations for Barea are; Dallas, Miami, Boston, LA, and San Antonio (if George Hill goes back to the 2). I don't see Barea inking with a team that isn't a contender.

4. Andre Miller(15 ppg. 6 apg.) - Miller has a team option with the Blazers, and with the team seriously lacking a PG for the future, it is most likely they pick up his option unless they make a run at a guy like Aaron Brooks, which is what I think they should do. Miller's backup this past season was Patty Mills, who is an unrestricted free agent with a lot of upside. Although Miller is aging he is still a solid floor general, the OG knows the game. I think the most likely scenario is that Miller resigns with Portland, but if they decide to go with Mills, and bring in another young PG, Miller's veteran leadership is something contending teams would love to have in their locker rooms. If he signs anywhere else other than Portland, his starting days might be over, but Miller could help out teams like the Lakers, Miami, and Boston.

5. Mario Chalmers (7 ppg. 2 apg.) - Chalmers has had his ups and downs in Miami, but I still think he's a solid player. He can defend and knock down the open three point shot. I think that playing with three great players like Bron, Wade, and Bosh; people thought he would emerge as the second coming of Rajon Rondo, but it obviously hasn't been the case, he's just not that type of player. But he is capable of making plays and pestering the opposing teams PG all the way up the floor. Chalmers is an Unrestricted Free Agent, as well as Mike Bibby. There isn't a ton of talent in the market for PG's right now so Miami may have to resign both of them, and we may see Chalmers become the starter once again in Miami. If the homie doesn't sign back with Miami, he would make a solid backup for a lot of teams. His top destinations are; Miami, Portland, Sacramento, and Indiana.